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KAT has struggle mightily in this series and this is probably too little too late, but the Wolves won't die easily and Towns will get it going in Game 4.
Jaden Hardy is averaging less than 11 minutes this series. He’s only taken four three-pointers thus far. Hardy didn’t attempt one in the first game and only shot one in game three. He’s gone under this number in two of three and with his limited minutes in a potential close out game, it’s possible these low minutes stay the same.
After scoring just two points in Game 2, Jaden McDaniels chipped in 15 points in Game 3. In Game 1, he exploded with 24 points. Over the last eight games, he has scored at least 10 points six times. One time that he missed, he finished with nine points. He even had three games with at least 21 points during that span. He is a streaky shooter who can get into foul trouble, but this prop has been set too low. I’ll take the over.
Naz Reid has been one of the few viable scoring options off the bench for the Timberwolves. He has scored at least 14 points in all three games of this series, including when he scored 23 points in Game 2. What’s also encouraging is that he logged at least 29 minutes in both of the last two games. With his three-point shooting prowess and a path to significant playing time, the over is the way to go here.
This is a seriously depressed number for Rudy Gobert who averaged 12.9 RPG in the regular season and was pulling down 12.2 RPG prior to this series. Gobert has dealt with foul trouble in two games that has really prevented him from making a big impact on the glass. I also love the fact that Dereck Lively will be out tonight, leaving just an undersized Daniel Gafford as the only healthy body in Dallas front court. Minnesota should DOMINATE on the glass tonight.
KAT will have an opportunity to rebound with no Derek Lively tonight. His playoff median is 9 rebounds per game….clearing 7.5 should be very attainable
No Derek Lively means more opportunities for Rudy the G. I think Daniel Gafford will play more minutes but he can’t really roll for 40 leaving Rudy with minutes where he should eat on the glass.
It's been a tough WCF for KAT who is averaging 15 PPG on just 27.8% shooting from the field. While it's going to be hard to shoot much worse than that, I do anticipate a more aggressive effort from KAT in Game 4 whereas rebounds are largely an effort based category. Look for Towns to play upwards of 40 minutes barring foul trouble and I believe he has double digit rebounds in the process.
Maybe the T-wolves have consulted with Jonathan Quick, Anze Kopitar and some of the 2013-14 LA Kings, the last pro sports team to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs. But Minny only has to win one tonight, and the oddsmakers haven't been afraid to shrink the spread as many bettors aren't convinced the Wolves are going to get swept after having chances to win all three games into the last minute. It will take KAT to get back on course, but Anthony Edwards played his best game of the series on Sunday, and the Dereck Lively II absence is more of a problem for Dallas than many realize. No surprise if the Wolves finally steal a close one here. Play Timberwolves
I simply believe the Wolves will find their way back to Minnesota. In fact I wouldn’t mind a .1 unit on the wolves to win 4 in a row at +3500.
Minnesota may be down three games to nothing to the Dallas Mavericks, but the market continues to be on their side. In games one and two they were the bigger home favorite then what we have seen in Dallas’s home series spreads. The market has also bought down the opening line to the Timberwolves side. The only difference in games one through three has been execution down the stretch. Look for the Timberwolves to play with enough aggression that avoids that window for Dallas. Tail Minnesota
Anthony Edwards played great basketball in the previous two series but has struggled in the WCF. One area where he's performed well has been his peripheral stats where he is averaging 8 rebounds and 8 assists, while eclipsing this in three of his last four games. If we look at the rebound and assist distributions, I don't think his numbers are sustainable. We are getting a bloated combo line.
When it matters most, the Wolves can't hang with the Mavs backcourt. KAT is a lost cause, Gobert gets exposed if he has to leave the rim area, ANT is out of sorts and Naz Reid can't be their best player every night. Mavs smell blood. Luka and Kyrie shooting daggers. Lively injury situation gives me a little pause but love way Dallas's role guys are shooting the three-ball. Wolves vaunted D can't slow down this group (Mavs have true shooting % of 61.7) and signs of frustration showing. Mike Conley's legs look wobbly, and offense stalls without him. Even when Wolves start fast, Mavs close when it's winning time in 4th quarter. DAL has 125.0 Off Rating in 4th qtr (MIN 95.5) w/69.3 TS%